FAITH AND WORKS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 6th Friday in Ordinary Time is, “Faith and Works.”

Today’s first reading - James 2: 14-26 - is a famous text of the New Testament - and fro theological discussion it’s worth being aware of it.

It has triggered for some the great “Faith and Works” controversy.

Luther called this text of James “straw” - compared to Paul’s writings on faith in Jesus as our Savior.

BIBLICAL TEXTS AND CHURCH TEACHINGS


If one gets into theology, one gets into conflicts and controversy.

As I thought about the “Faith and Works” question, I tried to see what principles have worked for me. I thought to myself, “Could I put them into writing. Let me start with 3 principles.

1) A text out of context is a text out of context. When people start arguing religious questions, out of our mouths come Bible texts - which triggers other Bible texts. So some people then say, “A text out of context is a pretext.” I’m saying here: “A text our of context is a text our of context.” That should be less argumentative. So if someone is arguing with you - using Bible texts - smile. Offer them a glass of cold water if they come to your door or a cup of tea or coffee - if they are in your house. If they want to argue with you using Bible texts, best of luck. I would simply say, “Am I correct that your mind is made up on this?” If they say “Yes” then talk about the Ravens or the weather. If they continue with a Bible text simply say, “A text our of context is a text out of context.”

2) Outside the Bible there is light. If you’re a Catholic, you would know that we hold that there are sources of light outside the Bible. This does not mean that the Catholic Church is not Biblically based. It means that there are traditions and teachings, councils and creeds, some of which have risen out of conflicts amongst various Christians about meanings of words in the Bible etc. So Catholics hold up to the light both the Bible and the Bible in light of Traditions that arose afterwards, etc.

3) If minds are made up, minds are made up. If one person says the curtain is blue and the other person says it’s purple, why argue? If one person says President Obama is a secret Muslim, why argue? If someone says, “The Catholic Church is wrong on this!” and you see their hands are fists - and their face and whole skull is a fist, why argue?

SOME IF’S - BACK TO JAMES 2: 14-26
Now back to today’s text from James 2:14-26..

If Luther and various protestors thought that some Christians - united to Rome - thought that some people thought they were buying eternal salvation by a money donation, then Luther and others thought that was going on. And they protested.

If Catholic Church theologians thought and taught that Jesus is the one who saves us - not ourselves - they thought that - while not necessarily thinking the money thing.

If Jesus and Paul thought that some Jews were thinking that keeping the Law with all its tiny details - will keep us in God’s good graces - and save us - and in the meanwhile they are cruel to their parents or what have - using loopholes in the Law, Jesus and Paul disagreed with the Law saving us idea. [Cf. Mark 7: 1-13; Romans 7]

If James saw folks in his community not doing any work or making any effort for caring for the poor and the hungry or those who were freezing cold - and in the meanwhile they are saying they have faith in Jesus Christ, then he’s saying they have a misguided understanding of life and faith.

If Luther and others don’t think they have teachings, understandings, ideas, policies, theologies - about what Bible texts mean and don’t mean and these teachings and understandings are not in the Bible, but they believe come out of the Bible, they need to step back and realize that. If they won’t admit this, don’t argue. It isn’t worth it. One has to realize that reality. Protestant communities have teachings, their own popes, councils, theologies that are part of their tradition.

CONCLUSION

In the meanwhile, hopefully all Christians realize that Jesus is our Savior - and we can’t buy heaven - as well as an eternal life - our resurrection after we die. It’s totally out of our hands.

However, hopefully, in the meanwhile, we lose ourselves - die to ourselves - so we can help others rise - and lead a great healthy life, here - as well as hereafter.

I HAVE A VISION 

February  17,  2012

Quote for Today - Seventeenth Day in Black History Month

"Have a vision. Be demanding."

Colin Powell [1937  -      ]

I’M 

PARTIAL

Today’s first reading [James 2:1-9] - the reading for this 6th Thursday in Ordinary Time - triggers the topic of partiality. [1]

Fill in the blank: I’m partial to _______________.

Starbucks, summers, butter almond ice cream, lacrosse, mornings ….

If I limited the blank to people, who would make our list?

Today’s first reading begins: “Show no partiality!”

James, the writer of today’s letter, spotted something that happens in many churches - many schools - many teams - many places of work: partiality.

In his church James must have seen someone come in with gold rings and things and fancy clothes - and the ushers said - or the leader said, “Come right up here Mr. Bo Jangles. We have a nice seat for you up front.” Then in comes a poor person with shabby clothes and he is told to “Stand back there!” or “Sit at my feet.”

That’s partiality.

You know the saying, “In the land of the blind, the one eyed person is king or queen.”

If we were all living in the land of the blind, how would we show partiality? Would it be by accent? Speech? The sound of our voice?

If we were all deaf, dumb and blind, how would we show partiality?

Would it be scent? Would it be touch? Weight? Height?

If you’ve watched Animal Channel you know about Alpha Males. You know how one animal takes over. So when we talk about animals, we talk about partiality.

If you’ve watched Discovery Channel you know about the dominant female monkey in a cage - the one who is queen - has shoulders thrown back - while the other female monkeys hunch a bit in submission.

If you read the Gospels you know all the sheep are important - even the lost one - the one out of communion with the rest. [2]

The title of my homily is, “I’m partial!”

Humans flaunt their looks, their wealthy, their gold, their marks, their cars, their athleticism, their talents - to show they are in the upper part of humanity.

Jesus didn’t like this separation stuff - this pedestal stuff - this non-communion stuff.

At times I hear people wanting to block communion - block union - in the community of churchgoers.

The follower of Jesus works on being open to all people - saints and sinners - who’s who? - being there for all people - serving all - washing feet - and greeting all - trying not to be partial or to show partiality.

God is not partial.

All are God’s creations.

For some it doesn’t seem to work that way.

Just listen to people. God is not fair. Life is not fair. Why am I so short?

Why does so and so have such and such?

Then there is paradox. The scriptures seem to say the poor are God’s favorites. The Psalm response for today is: “The Lord hears the cries of the poor!” [3]

The poor say, “You’re kidding God. You’re kidding.”

Then there are the paradoxes. Of course we are partial to the members of our own families.

Of course we are partial to our own kind.

Of course we are partial to those we’re comfortable with.

Of course we are partial to those our own age.

Of course we play the game. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.

We know what our teachers want - what answers they want us to give - what behavior they want to see.

People do the same thing to each other all around the world. “Whatever you want boss!”

Hey it’s the Golden Rule isn’t it.

Yet the call - the message - the hope is still there: to be impartial.

The Christian reaches out to all people.

The Christian tries to learn the language and skills of reaching out to all people.

Jesus pushed this and look where it got him.

He says the cross is what’s going to happen in Jerusalem - and Peter takes Jesus aside and says, “Are you crazy?”

And Jesus - who chose Peter - who made Peter his key guy - who gave Peter the keys to the kingdom says to Peter: "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

Keep on being part of Jesus - who brings us into communion with the Father and the Spirit. To abide - to travel with Jesus - to our Jerusalem - and we’ll be learning these things. It’s called “discipleship” - not a bad ship to be on.

******

[1] This was a homily for our St. Mary's High School young people this morning over at Marian Hall.

[2] Read Luke 15

[3] Read Psalm 34: 2-7

GRAVITAS

February  16, 2012

Quote for Today - Sixteenth Day in Black History Month


"I gravitate towards gravitas."



Morgan Freeman [1937-  ]

RACISM

Febuary  15, 2012

Quote for Today - Fifteenth Day of Black History Month

"I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or a white man."


Nelson Mandela  

ST. VALENTINE’S DAY

Happy St Valentine’s Day!


Those who own Greeting Card Stores
or have a Greeting Card section in
a big store - St, Valentine’s Day is
a great day - for sales - for business for
“Come shop with me!”


How about those who sell chocolates?


What about flowers?


What about unmentionables?


Wait! And what about those tiny
big ticket items: jewelry?

What about restaurants and taking
your loved one out for dinner?


Happy St. Valentine’s Day!


Question: why in the world did
the Catholic Church back in 1969
“sort of drop” St. Valentine from
their roster of Saints - Saints with a
Capital “S”? The word on the street was
there was too much of “The Stuff of Legends”
when it came to saints like St. Valentine
and St. Christopher. If that was true,
what about the St. Patrick - whose life has
many wonderful legends and stories as well?


Smile! Just as March has St. Patrick’s Day,
so too February has St. Valentine’s Day
and people still have St. Christopher medals
in their cars and around their necks.
Isn't it wonderful that some things
can't be controled by those
who think they are in control? Smile.
Grab a piece of chocolate, say
a prayer to St. Christopher when you travel
and next month pick a shamrock
and wish your neighbor a field full
of God's blessings and a bit of blarney. 

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2012

FATHERHOOD

February  14,  2012

Quote for Today - Fourteenth Day of Black History Month

“I felt something impossible for me to explain in words. Then when they took her away, it hit me. I got scared all over again and began to feel giddy. Then it came to me -- I was a father.”

Nat King Cole